After a yearlong saga, Kawhi Leonard's next chapter has been revealed as the Raptors acquired the perennial MVP candidate Wednesday morning in a trade with the Spurs. But this deal isn't just about Leonard - the other player Toronto acquired makes the deal worthwhile.

Danny Green, entering his 10th NBA season, has proven himself on both ends of the court. The 31-year-old has been durable over his eight-year stint with the Spurs, appearing in at least 66 games each year since 2011, but his impact in San Antonio went beyond what he brought to the floor.

"Danny Green will be missed," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters on Wednesday. "He's been here quite a while. He was a big part of what we do both on and off the court. He was a big community guy, and we're going to miss him very much."

With the departure of DeMar DeRozan, the Raptors will have to replace the 23.0 points per game his averaged last season. If Leonard is healthy and decides to play, he will easily replace that production (plus All-NBA level defense), as he posted 25.5 points per game just one year ago for the 2016-17 Spurs. He is one of the best all-around stars in the entire league.

The question will be how can Green can help a Raptors team coming off a franchise-best 59-win regular season.

A sharpshooter from 3-point range

Green brings a proven ability to shoot from 3-point range and play outstanding defense - two things that have presented problems for DeRozan. The Raptors' offense is largely predicated on the deep ball, as the team ranked third in 3-pointers attempted (2,703) and fourth in 3-pointers made (968), but just 18th in 3-point field goal percentage (35.8) last season.

Green is a career 39.5 percent shooter from beyond the arc, so he should help Toronto space the floor. The 6-6 guard was second on the Spurs last season in 3-pointers made (116) just behind Patty Mills (154).

The Raptors already boast four players in Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, C.J. Miles and Serge Ibaka who shot at least 36 percent from deep last season. The Raptors challenged DeRozan to cut down on those midrange looks last year, and he did, posting career-highs in 3-pointers taken (89) and attempted (285). While Green has attempted fewer 3-pointers in recent years, he remains a threat from outside, having made at least 112 triples every year since 2012.

Even at his best last season, DeRozan was a mere 31 percent shooter from outside. After another early postseason exit, the Raptors made it clear that nobody in the organization is untouchable, which has been proven by the dismissal of Coach of the Year Dwane Casey and the trade of DeRozan, a franchise cornerstone. It's Finals or bust now.

A tenacious defender on the wing

Another strong part of Toronto's game last season was the team's defense. The Raptors ranked fifth in the league with a 106.5 defensive rating, but their defensive rating with DeRozan on the floor was 109.0, the worst total on the team among players who appeared in at least 50 games.

By adding Green and Leonard, the Raptors have drastically improved their defense. In Leonard's last healthy season, both men made the All-NBA Defensive teams and showed they were capable of shutting down some of the NBA's elite scorers.

Adding Leonard and Green to a team that already boasts solid defenders such as Lowry and OG Anunoby figures to make the Raptors a formidable team on both sides of the basketball. Toronto can now throw out versatile and switchable lineups against teams with multiple wing threats. That becomes incredibly important come playoff time.

Like Leonard, Green is entering his final year before hitting the free agency. But, if the 2014 NBA champion can play the way he has for parts of the past decade, the Raptors could be on their way to another outstanding regular season - and perhaps a deep run through the 2019 postseason.